Prep School

Chapter 59

I trudge down the stairs, rubbing my hands. They sting and itch and my throat burns.
I yawn and button up my uniform shirt. Mom sets a plate of scrambled eggs in front of me. Riel snickers at my expression as I sleepily pick up a fork and try to put food into my mouth.
I miss.
Riel snickers louder. Mom glares at him then guides my hand so it shovels eggs into my mouth.
Riel is dying on the other side of the table. I glare at him, yawning. He just lets out another hoot. I glare again and scoop up my plate and follow Mom to the car.

My classes all seem like they're taking forever to finish. When they're all done, after an eternity, Gianna and I pack up and go to meet Cace and Zane, who are taking us to the cafe again.
Gianna goes on ahead of me, since she has to pick up something from another class.
I sling my backpack over my shoulder and walk down the stairs, following after her. I yawn. Next thing I know, I'm falling, face first, onto a set of stairs.
Damn untied Converses.
An arm loops around my waist, pulling me up. Without thinking, I pivot and kick whoever it is in the shin, making them buckle.
"God damn Princess."
I look down and see Chris wincing as he tries to stand up.
I glare down at him as he holds out a hand.
"You're funny."
Real funny, like I'm gonna help you up.
He winks and pulls himself up.
"Going somewhere Princess?"
I ignore him and walk briskly down the stairs.
He walks down next to me.
He leans in, his hair too close to my face, his face too close to my face.
I glare at him, pushing myself away.
"I'm hurt, Princess. Don't you think I'm attractive?"
He strikes a ridiculous pose, swinging his hips.
I growl under my breath and walk faster.
He comes up next to me, drifting his face near mine again.
"Bye Princess."
I move away quickly and rush down the hallway.
When I get to where the guys are waiting with Gianna, I'm out of breath.
Gianna rushes forward. "What's up?"
"Chris the ass," I mutter.
Zane comes up next. "What'd he do?"
I quickly go over what happened.
"What a jack-ass,"Gianna says.
"No kidding," Cace mutters.
He points to Zane. "Doesn't he know you're taken?"
Zane winks at me. "You hear that? We're a thing now, oh feisty one. Guess my dreams are coming true."
I roll my eyes, pinking slightly. Zane grins and slips his hand into mine.
"Let's just get going."
Cace leads us to his car, where we pile in.
We pass by the facility as we drive. I suck in a breath when I look at it.
It's sleek walls are broken and burnt. Like an ancient ruin. Construction workers are working machines, taking pieces of it off, replacing walls.
Y'know, the traitor might have something to do with the fire. You should text Riel. Riel probably already figured it out. Yeah, but still.
I dig in my pocket for my phone.
Huh.
I look down into my hoodie pocket. Empty.
"What the....." I mutter.
"What is it?" Gianna turns to me.
"I can't find my phone."
"What?"
"I don't where it is."
I start digging around frantically. I look in my bag, in my pockets, around the car.
The car stops and I see the cafe outside.
"Where is it?!"
Zane puts a hand on my arm. "Aria, calm down."
I take a breath. "Yeah, yeah, ok."
He puts his hands on my shoulders. "Just breathe."
We walk inside the cafe and prefer our drinks. We sit at an alcove and Cace speaks up.
"I've got an idea. My apartment's not far from here, we could go there and track your phone."
He thinks for a moment. "What kind of phone do you have?"
"An IPhone."
"Then we can track it. Do you remember your account?"
I nod.
"Then let's get going."
We stand up and walk to the car. We hop in and we get to Cace's place in 2 minutes. We walk up the stairs and into his apartment. It's small and neat and there are several pictures on the mantle.
"It's just me and my mom."
Cace leads us to his room and we all plop down on the floor.
Gianna looks at me. "Did anyone bump into you or something?"
"Why?"
"Usually pickpockets bump into the people they're gonna steal from."
Cace looks at Gianna, impressed.
"Didn't take you as the bad-ass type."
Gianna winks at him.
"Anyway guys, I don't remember anyone bumping into me or anything."
I think over my day.
"Actually......"
Zane speaks up. "Chris."
I nod slowly then faster. "Yeah."
Gianna thinks. "Where do you keep your phone?"
I pat my hoodie pocket.
Cace thinks this time. "You said Chris grabbed your waist."
"More or less."
We all nod at the same time.
"Chris has the phone."
Cace jumps up and walks to his desk.
He flips open his laptop and types something in.
The rest of us stand up and crowd around him.
He slides the laptop to me. "Log in."
I quickly type in my username and stuff and Cace clicks on the map icon. It loads for a couple moments and a glowing pinpoint pops up.
I check the clock. 6:45.
I click on another icon, locking up my phone, so only I can open it up.
I check the map again.
"Next stop: Licoln Park."